Mong Kok: Ultimate Guide

As the world’s busiest and most densely populated urban district in the world, packing an average of 130,000 people into every square kilometre, it should come to no surprise that Mong Kok is full of hidden gems. Aside from being a famous shopping destination with massive shopping malls and street markets, the neighbourhood is home to themed cafés and a whole host of spectacular local eateries. Don’t know where to start? Read on...

The best things to and eat in Mong Kok

As the name suggests, the concept behind this Mong Kok café is to provide a space for people to catch their breath while sipping a quality coffee. Pause It sources its coffee beans from Ethiopia and Columbia, so the java tends to have a strong citrus aroma. Aside from great flavours, the baristas here use natural colourings to enhance your order – take a look at the charcoal latte – a huge hit on Instagram already – purple taro latte and red velvet latte.

The place to hit up for kidults with cash to splash. Proudly based in Hong Kong and distributed worldwide, Hot Toys designs and manufactures high-end collectable figures for popular movies like the Star Wars franchise and sells posters for the Marvel and DC cinematic stables. The store resembles the interior of a sleek, sci-fi spaceship, with premium collectibles secured in museum display cabinets for fans to admire or take home.

Are you a big fan of comics and manga but not sure where to look? If you can read traditional Chinese, make a trip to Sino Centre and you’ll be rewarded with one of the city’s biggest collections. Each shop has its own speciality whether brand new releases or secondhand material, trending series or more obscure titles. Do a round of all the stores first before making any purchases in order to find the best bargain.

A renowned stretch of Mong Kok located right next to the famous Ladies’ Market, Sneaker Street is home to a clutch of retailers selling sports equipment and clothing. This is the place to pick up branded sneakers and trainers – Nike, Addidas, Onitsuka, Reebok, Asics, you name it. Special editions and collector’s items are also available if you’re searching for something rare.

Say hello to Mong Kok’s newest shopping mall. Home to many HK, Japanese and Korean brands – including a giant 10,000sq ft Åland store – the food court is also home to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, the first location of the fried chicken chain outside of Hong Kong International Airport.

Goldfish are a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture as the first character means ‘gold’ while the second sounds like ‘jade’. Here on Tung Choi Street, the fish are often displayed in either immense aquariums or little plastic bags hung at the entrance to stores. Besides these little repositories of luck, everything from colourful tropical species to full-on saltwater aquarium setups can be purchased.

Don’t overlook this quaint little shop in Mong Kok, one of Hong Kong’s few remaining record stores, because it holds a reputable collection of both classic and modern musical favourites (with a focus on European indie music). Zoo also sells tickets to a number of indie gigs across town, making it even more of a destination for music lovers.

Explore another local ‘hood

Sham Shui Po is a mecca for shopoholics in Hong Kong. Electronics, computer gadgets, accessories and even children’s toys – SSP is a place where you can find some of the best shopping streets in all Hong Kong.